Hammer



June 3 1924. 1,496,013

W. A. MlNlcK HAMMER Filed Feb. 1e, 1922 invento/c,

Patented June 3, 1924.

UNITED STATESv PATENT oEFlcE.

HAMMER.

Application filed February 16, 1922. Serial No. 537,005.

T 0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. MINICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glasgow, in the county of Barren and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Hammer, of which the .following is a specification.

This invention relates to a hammer designed primarily for use by lumbermen, one of its objects being to provide a hammer which can be used both for branding or marking logs and also to prevent logs from checking or slitting.

It is well known to those skilled in the art that when a log begins tov crack or split at the center or heart thereof, the crack will quickly enlarge until it reaches the periphery of the log and as a result it often becomes necessary to cut off and waste two or three feet at each end of the log after the same has been cut. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a hammer which can be used for cutting a continuous groove around the heart of a log at each end thereof, it having been found that when a log is thus treated the objectionable checking or cracking of the ends of the log from the center to the periphery thereof can be avoided and a great saving of lumber thus effected.

Another object is to provide a hammer"- Y and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the hammer, the handle being broken away.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2, Figure l.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the cutting end of the hammer headf" Figure 4 is an elevation of the marking end of the hammer head.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference l designates the head of the hammer, the same being preferably rectangular as shown and being mounted at its center on a handle 2. One end of the head is recessed as shown at 3, the walls of the recess being square to provide a cutting edge t extending continuously along the kfour sides of the head.

Formed in the other end of the head is a screw threaded recess 5 adapted to receive a threaded stud 6 extending from a button 7 on which is cast or otherwise formed a projection 8 of the shape to be used in branding or marking the lumber. This pro- `jection can represent a letter of the alphabet or any particular geometrical or other figure.

After a log has been cut a blow is struck against each Vend thereof with the recessed end of the head l so that the cutting edges 4 will bite into the ends of the log and form a continuous groove extending around the heart of the log. It has been found in practice that by providing a continuous groove in this way the formation of cracks or checks in the ends of the log and extending from the heart to the periphery, will be prevented. By striking the log with the other end of the hammer head the marker 8 will be driven into the log so as to provide an identifying mark -indicating the workman or the owner, as desired.

Obviously the marker can be removed readily by means of a suitable wrench engaging the button 7,v and another substituted therefor.

What is claimed is The combination with a hammer head having a handle extending therefrom to be grasped by the user, said head having a threaded recess in one end thereof, of a marker including a threaded stud removably mounted in the recess, anV angular button upon the stud bearing against the face of the hammer head to transmit thrust thereto, and a marking projection upon the button, said button frictionally engaging the headto hold the stud against rotation and to support the marking projection away from Jthe head.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signa,-

ture in the presence of two witnesses. 

